Container closure



Feb' 25, 1936- c. H. RAsMUssEN '2,031,979

CONTAINER'GLOSURE Filed Sept. 25, 19:55

2:7 'I-Y I INVENTOR ATTORNEY,

Patented Feb. 25, 1936 PATENT oF-FicE CONTAINER CLOSURE Charles H. Rasmussen, Brooklyn, N. Y., assignor to Ferdinand Gutmann & Co., Brooklyn, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application September 25, 1935, Serial No. 41,963

and an inner metallic shell having a screwA threaded skirt.

Double shell closures of the type to which the invention relates are used in very large quantities. -Such closures not only have an attractive nish and are capable of having lithographic decorations impressedv thereon, but the screw threads of the inner shell are not subject to distortion or deformation while a closure is being applied by a machine to a bottle. Heretofore, in the production of such closures, great difficulty has been experienced in securing a suiliciently tight joinder of the inner and the outer shells to avoid the production of closures in which there will not be an objectionably high percentage of closures defective in the respect that, when attempting to remove a closure, the connection between the two shells will be loosened to an extent to permit the free turning of the outer shell about the inner shell. This condition is greatly exaggerated if there be a slight deformation of the outer shell due to the handling of closures by an applying machine. A defective joint between the two shells may re- -sult from variance in the thickness of the metal in different closures, or a failure of the tools used in assembling the closure to develop in all closures, the same pressure relation between the inner and the outer shells.

To correct this condition, there has been developed a closure in which the inner shell has an interrupted, outwardly iiared bottom flange which, as a result of the rolling or turning of the bottom of the outer shell, has itsedge forced outwardly so as to engage and bite into the inner wall of the skirt of the outer shell.V The depth of this bite cannot be great without'forcing the metal of the skirt outwardly, forming irregularities in the outside of the'skirt of the outer shell. With this type of closure, the application J5 of excessive force in an effort to turn the closure is impossible since the defects resulting in a free turning of the outer shell are developed only when it is attempted to remove the closure from, or apply it to, a container. l

In the production of double shell closures prior 5 to my invention, the turning or rolling of the edge of the skirt of the outer shell developedv stresses upon the skirt of the inner shell lengthwise thereof which had a tendency to deform the screw threads formed in this skirt, thus 10 interfering with a proper attachment and removal of the closure from the neck of a bottle or other container. The rolled threads upon the skirt of the inner shell reduce the resistance to such stresses, the drawn portions of the metal 15 weakening the skirt throughout the threaded portion thereof and permitting the partial collapsing of this threaded portion with the application of comparatively light pressure thereto.-

With the above conditions in mind, I have 20 produced a double shell container closure wherein frictional engagement between the rolled edge of the skirt of the outer shell and the skirt of the inner shell is not relied upon to prevent relative movement of these shells, but wherein the 25 tensile strength of the rolled portion of the outer shell is utilized for this purpose. With this construction, the turning of the outer shell independently of the inner shell is possible only as a result of excessivedistortion of the bead or 30 roll of the outer shell, the possibility of which is remote since this portion of the shell is greatly stifiened by the bead or roll.

While, in the production of the closure, there is a clamping action of the roll or bead of the outer 35 shell upon short, spaced areas of the inner shell, this is not relied upon to effectively connect the two shells, being merely incidental to the methods employed in permanently uniting the two shells.

In a container closure embodying the invention, the turning of the outer shell in relation to the inner shell is resisted by the bead or roll of the outer shell which abuts opposite edges of widely spaced lugs about the edge of the inner shell. 45

In the production of a closure embodying the invention, I preferably so form the outer shell as to accurately center the inner shell in relation thereto during the assembling operation, the means for so centering said inner shell also serving to space the screw threaded skirt of the inner shell from the skirt of the outer shell sunlciently to permit a limited degree of flexure of this skirtI in adapting itself to the screw threads upon a bottle or other container. Such means also serve as a handhold to facilitate the removal of the closure from a container, but are not essential 'to the invention since the construction of the inner shell may be so modiiied as to secure the desired centering thereof in the outer shell.

The invention consists primarily in a container closure embodying therein an outer shell having a skirt, and an inner shell having a skirt provided with means adapted to co-operate with complementary means upon the neck of a containervin applying a closure to, or removing it from, a container, the bottom edge of the skirt of said inner shell being provided with a plurality of pendant lugs spaced in relation to each other circumferentially of the skirt, and the bottom edge of theV skirt of said outer shell being inwardly curled to bring its edge in abutting relation to the skirt of the outer shell intermediate said lugs and in engaging relation with the opposite edges of each of said lugs; and in such other novel features of construction and combination of parts as are hereinafter set forth and described, and more particularly pointed out in the claims hereto appended. Y

Referring to the drawing,

Fig. 1 is a side view, broken away upon different vertical planes, to disclose the construction and relation of parts in a fully assembled cap;

Fig. 2 is a side view of the inner shell;

Fig. 3 is a view, partly in section, of the outer shell prior to the assembly of the closure; and

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section upon an enlarged scale of one of the. lugs of the inner shell immediately above the curl of the outer shell.

Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views.

In the accompanying drawing, the closure isl about the neck of the container in applying the closure to, or removing it from, a container.

'I'he skirt I4 of the inner shell I3 is provided with an outwardly extending bottom flange I 6 adapted to have a loose t with the inner wall of the skirt I2 of the outer shell considerably above the bottom ofv said skirt. This flange tends to stiil'en the bottom of the skirt Il and aldsin `cvlinslering the inner shell in relation to theouter Projecting downwardly from the edge -oi theV ange I6 is a plurality of lugs II,'utilized in securing the inner and outer shells together in a manner to be hereinafter referred to. Said lugs preferably have a curved edge circumferentially of the edge of the skirt, as indicated at I8., and

have the same circumferential curvature as theskirts I2 and Il. By locating these pendant lugs at the outer edge vof the iiange I6, they are brought into close abutting 'relation with the skirt I2 of the outer shell I0. 'Ihe lugs I'I are of a l height to position the ends'thereof suiliciently tirety below and in substantial engagement withV the bottom of the radial ange I6. When curling the edge portion of the skirt I2, the bottom edge In a closure embodying the iny gages the lugs in-a manner to form shoulders 20 upon the curled or rolled portion 2l of the outer skirt adjacent and in abutting relation toopposite edges of each lug. Such shoulders have dimensions substantially equalling the thickness of the metal of the lugs and, by reason of conditions well known to sheet metal workers, these shoulders will not be abrupt but will be slightly bevelled. This condition is merely an unavoidable condition in sheet metal work.

By the' above construction, pockets for the reception of the various lugs Il are formed in the curl or roll during the assembling of the closure,

the portions of the curl or roll forming the edges of each pocket constituting a barrier to restrain relative turning movement of the two shells either during the application of the closure to, or its removal from, a container.

The shoulders 2B can only be of a width corresponding with the thickness of the material of the lugs. In order to increase their eectiveness. I provide lugs having a curved edge, which, as shown in Fig. 4, during the deformation of the material of the curl, roll -or bead 2l, will give increased length to these shoulders so as to increase the contacting area between the curl, roll or bead 2l and the lugs I'I. Y

With the construction shown and described, the several lugs I1 are coniined in substantially their entirety within the curl, roll or bead 2| about the edge of the closure, but the height of these lugs is such that they are not turned with the edge of the skirt I2 of the cuter shell when forming the curl, roll or bead. Anycurling of the lugs, however, would have no useful purpose in the closure. If, however, the lugs should be too high or the curling tools should not act properly The radially extending ange I6 from which the I .as to all closures, these lugs may be distorted lugs I1 depend, serves to offset the lugs in relation to the screw threaded portion of the skirt,

so as to bring them into. a close sliding t with the inner wall of the skirtl2 of the outer shell l0, thus serving the two-fold function of bringing said lugs within the desired operative position in relation to the curl, roll or bead 2|, and of providing clearance between the screw. threaded por- Il and centers this portion of the skirt in rela- ,65 tion to the skirt I2 ofthe outer shell, the lugs IIv contributing toward securing tbedesired relative positioning of the two shells during the assembling operation.

During the formation of the curl, roll or bead 2l, the pressures developed under normal conditions are radially of the closure and against the skirt I2 of the outer shell, thusrelieving the screw threaded skirt Il of the inner shell from any stresses tending to close or collapse ThisV the screw threads. In the event of irregularities in the co-operating shells of different closures, the curl, roll or bead 2l may, While it is being formed, engage the bottom face of the flange IB. The material of the inner shell being of thin gauge sheet metal, any pressure upon thisange toward the top of the inner shell will merely result in the yielding of the flange I6 without developing stresses upon the skirt I 4 suiiicient to cause any deformation cf the screw threaded portion thereof.

'Ihe form of the close'd tops of the inner andl outer vshells is largely a matter of selection, it being merely necessary that the top of the inner shell shall engage that of the outer shell in order to facilitate the assembling of the two 4shells and ensure a continued fixed relative position of these shells.

Ordinarily, a. portion of the skirt I4 adjacent the top of the inner shell is of relatively greater diameter, as shown at 22, than the screw threaded portion of the skirt so as to permit a cushion disk or liner 23 tofbe inserted and held within said inner shell adjacent the top thereof.

While the flange I6 serves to center the inner shell I3 in relation to the outer shell during the assembling of the two shells, I prefer to provide the skirt I2 of the outer shell with a plurality of spaced depressions 24, these depressions being of a depth to lightly engage the enlarged portion 22 of vthe inner shell and assist in centering the inner shell in relation to the outer shell during the as` sembling operation. These depressions 24 also serve as handholds to facilitate the removal of a closure from a container, such closures ordinarily being applied to a container by a capping machine.

The manner of assembling and the operation of a closure embodying the invention is substantially as follows:-

In the production of closures embodying the invention, the outer shell I0 is drawn from sheet metal to substantially the form shown in Fig. 3 of the drawing. The innervshell I3 isalso drawn from sheet metal. and the screw threads or other attaching means formed therein to produce an inner shell of the form shown in Fig. 2. The sheet metal of which outer shells I0 are formed may be decorated in any desired manner prior to the feeding of the sheet to a punch press for forming the shell.

A previously formed inner shell is then inserted in a previously formed outer shell, the :Bange I6 lserving to center the two shells in relation to each other, the depressions 2d in the skirt of the outer shell, by engagement with the enlarged portion 22, assisting in the centering of the two shells.

When the two shells are thus positioned, the screw threaded portion I5 of the skirt is spaced from the skirt I d of the outer shell, and the lugs I 1 are in contact with the skirt It adjacent its lower edge, the iiange I6 extending radially of the inner shell from said lugs to the` screw threaded portion of the skirt.

When I refer to the bottom of the shells III or I3, I have reference tothe free edge of the skirts thereof.

After the nesting of the inner shell in the outer shell in the manner described, the bottom edge of the skirt AIfi is curled or rolled in a manner well known' in the production of container closures te form the curl, roll or bead 2 I. During the curling or rolling operation, which is inwardly of the closure, the edge of the skirt I ll, before the completion of said operation, engages the inner facev of several lugs Il. This contact of the edge of the skirt oi.' the outer shell with said lugs forces the lugs into intimate contact with the inner wall of the skirt I4 and develops a strong frictional contact between the curl, roll or bead 2l and said lugs. The engagement of the edge of the skirt I4 with the lugs I1 is primarily for the purpose of causing the formation of the shoulders 20, since the portion of the curl engaging the lugs I1 will be slightly deformed, and the portions of the curl upon each side of the lug will be forced past the lug into engagement or substantial engagement with both edges of the lug and with the inner wall of the skirt I4.

The extent of deformationl of that portion of the material of the skirt I4 engaging the lugs I1, is determined by the contour of said lugs, so that with a curvature of the edge of the lugs as described, the length of the shoulders 20 will be relatively greater than with an angular or other form of lug.

In aclosure formed in the manner described..

the inner shell is held against rotative movement, in relation to the outer shell, by the confining of a plurality of lugs I1 within shouldered pockets formed in the curled, rolled or beaded portion of the outer skirt.

'I'he curl, roll or bead 2| of the vouter skirt serves to very materially stien the bottom edge .of the skirt lli, and` with the lugs conflned in the manner described, it is impossible to turn the outer shell in relation to the inner shell without spreading a considerable length of the curl, roll or bead. Ordinarily the curl, roll or bead is sufciently rigid to resist suflicient distortion thereof to allow turning of the outer shell in relation to the inner shell.

In forming the curl, roll or bead, it is given a circular form and has a trend toward the bottom of the closurev prior to its engagement with the lugs Il. Consequently, the shoulders 20 result from the closing of the edge portion of the curl, roll or bead engaging said lugs. The portions of the curl, roll or bead intermediate the lugs are forced past the lugs without the more abrupt curvature present at the lugs. Consequently, the outer shell can have no movement in relation to the lugs unless pressures are developed great enough to cause additional turning of the edge of the skirt I4 embodying the curl, roll or bead, since the thickness of the material of the lugs is sufiiciently great to preclude any possibility of their beingforced between the curl, roll or bead and the portion'of the skirt It with which it contacts.

In a closure embodying the invention, the curl, roll or bead 2i eiectively stifens the lower edge of the closure, and as tothe parts thereof between the lugs I1, effectively resists any relative turning movement of the two shells, since a shoulder 20 abuts against each edge of each lug. While each lug is clamped between the portion of the bead engaging same and the adjacent portion of the skirt, this is not relied upon to prevent relative movement of the two shells, and alone would prove ineiective for this purpose. If the closure were made without this feature, the relative movement of the two shells would still be impossible.

In-the form of the invention shown in the drawing, three lugs I1 are employed, said lugs being spaced apart approximately in are.A

This construction has been found eiective in securing a desired permanency in the union of the two shells. The exact number and spacing of said lugs. however, is immaterial'to the invention.

The shoulders 20. are formed by a drawing of the metal across the opposite' edges of each lug i1 when closing the curl, roll or bead. 'By using'a lug having a curved edge, this drawing action is less diillcult and the length of the shoulder is increased. A

The essential characteristics of the invention are the inner shell with its pendant lugs, and the outer shell with its curled-rolled or beaded lower edge embracing said lugs and formed about the edges thereof in a manner to produce shoulders as herein described.

It is not my. intention to limit the invention tothe precise details of construction shown in the drawing, it being obvious that such may be varied without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to have protected by Letters Patent, is:

1. A container closure embodying therein an -outer shell having .a slclrt, and an inner shell with the opposite edges of each'of said lugs.

2. A container closure embodying therein lan outer shell having a skirt, andan inner shell having a skirt provided with means adapted to co-operate with complementary means upon the neck of a container in applying a closure to, or removing it from, a. container, the bottom edge of the skirt ofsaid inner shell being provided with a plurality of pendant lugs spaced in relation to eachv other circumferentially 'of the skirt, and the bottom edge of the skirt of said outer shell being provided with a continuous, uninterrupted'inwardly and upwardly curled potion with its edge in abutting relation to -the skirt of .the outer shell intermediate said lugs and with the inner face, and in engaging relation with the opposite edges of each of said lugs'.A

3. A container closure embodying .therein an outer shell having a skirt, and an inner shell having a skirtprovided with means adapted to cooperatewith complementary means upon the neck of a container in applying a closure to, or removingit from,a container; the bottom edge of theV skirt of 4said inner shell beingprovided' with an outwardly ilange of a width-to engage the'sklrtvof said outer shell, and having at-the outer edge thereofia plurality of pendant lugs spaced in relation to eachpther circumferentially of the skirt, and the bottom edge of the skirt of said outer shell being v-inwardllgurled to bring its edge in abuttingrelation tothe skirt of the outershellintermediate said lugs and in engaging relation with the opposite edges of each of said lugs, and the upper portion thereof in engagemoving it from, a container, the bottom edge of the skirt of said inner shell being provided with an outwardly directed flange of a widthl to engage the skirt of said outer shell, and having at the outer edge thereof a plurality of pendant lugs spaced in relation to each other circumferentially of the skirt, and the bottom edge of the skirt of said outer shell being provided with a continuous, -V

uninterrupted inwardly and upwardly, curled portion with its edge in\abutting relation to the skirt of the outer shell intermediate said lugs and with the inner face, and'in eng ging relation with the opposite edges of each of d lugs, and the upper portion thereof in engagementrwith said flange.

5. A container closure embodying therein an outer shell .having a 'skirt provided adjacent the top of said sneu with a plurality of spaced de*- pressions, and aninner shell having a skirt provided with an enlarged portionv adjacent the top thereof and means adapted to co-operate with complementary means upon the neck of a containerin applying a closure to, or removing it from, a container, the bottom edge of the skirt of said inner shell being provided with a plurality of pendant lugs spaced in relation to each other circumferentially ofthe skirt, and the bottom edge of the skirt of'said outer shell being inwardly curled to bring its edge in abutting relation to the skirt of the outer shell intermediate said lugs and in engaging relation with the opposite edges of each of said lugs.

6. A container closure embodying therein an outer shell having a skirt provided adjacent the top of said shell with a plurality of spaced depressions, and an inner shell having a skirt provided with an enlarged portion adjacent the top thereof andmeans" adapted to co-operate with complementary means upon the neck of a. container in applying a closure to, or removing it from, a container, the bottom edgeof the skirt of said inner shell being provided with an outwardly directed ange of a width to engage the skirt of said outer shell, and having at the outer edge thereof a plurality of pendant lugs spaced in relation to each other circumferentially of the skirt, and the bottom'edge of the skirt of said outer shell being 'inwardly curled to bring its edge in abutting relation to the skirt of the outer shell intermediate said lugs and in engagingrelation with the opposite edges of each of said lugs, and the upper portion thereof in engagement with said ilange. y

'7. A container closure embodying therein an outer shell having a skirt provided adjacent the top of said shell with'a plurality of spaced dethe top wardly directed ilange of a width to engage the ,y skirt of said outer shell, and having at the outer edge thereof a plurality ofv pendant lugs spaced in relation to each other circumferentially of the skirt, and the bottom edge of the skirt of said outer shell being provided with a continuous, uninterrupted inwardly and upwardly curled portion with its edge in abuttingerelation to the skirt of the outer shell intermediate said lugs and with the inner face, and in engaging relation with the opposite edges of each of said lugs', and the upper portion thereof in engagement with saidiiange.

CHARLES H. RASMUSSEN. 

